Youth Livestock - Quality Assurance - Meat Animal Quality Assurance

View Only Site (Extension username and Passwords)

Advisor Site (Entering in Youth Certifications)

Meat Animal Quality Assurance program (MAQA) is the certified program taught in Wisconsin to youth enrolled in the sheep, swine and beef projects. The MAQA is required for swine exhibitors at the Wisconsin State Fair. Check with your local extension office on the Quality Assurance requirements for your county fair and or other shows you might exhibit at.

2008 MAQA Update:

1. There are 3 main changes from the National Pork Board in the Youth PQAPlus program for 2008.
1. A terminology change – Trainers will no longer be used – Advisors is the new name for those who train youth.
2. Due to the changes in the MAQA program for 2008, everyone who wants to train youth in MAQA is required to come to a training in 2008, with flexibility given to those who have attended the Adult PQAPlus trainings! Advisors (extension, ag instructors and veterinarians) will be required to come to a statewide training once every 3 years and to pass an open book exam. Trainings are still open and highly encouraged for volunteers to attend. We will be conducting a training at the Half-time Conference in January for Ag instructors and will have more trainings scheduled throughout the state for accessibility. Webcasting trainings will be considered for the future. 
3. The Good Production Practices have changed to include more information on animal care.
2. Wisconsin will be developing our own database and website for the MAQA program to enter youth who have completed training in each county. All advisors will enter information for all species (beef, swine, sheep, etc.) in this database. We will not be entering information on the National Pork Board’s website. All information will be entered into the Wisconsin website and then reports will be printed and shared with the National Pork Board. Many other states have gone this route. This website will include photos & movie clips for teaching, location of meetings in the state, multi species exams for testing out, the curriculum and powerpts, advisor exams, etc… It will be a nice resource tool for your programming and teaching. Trained Advisors will receive a username and password to have access to this database and website.
3. Big Positive: Due to the Wisconsin database we can train 19 year olds through youth advisors and through the MAQA program. Their certification will only be for one year. This is OK’ed through the National Pork Board. A letter will be developed and available online for youth who need PQAPlus certification when exhibiting at national shows.
4. The curriculum and Powerpoints for MAQA will be adjusted to fit the new Key Learning Objectives from the National Pork Board and will meet the PQAPlus requirements.
5. So therefore the Quality Assurance program for the state of Wisconsin will be the MAQA program! All information will be coordinated via a website and database executed from Wisconsin and the Wisconsin MAQA committee. All communication and terminology in your county or school should use MAQA not PQA from this point forward. The Wisconsin MAQA program adapts to the changes from the National Pork Board and meets their requirements for PQA. Note this terminology change when making premium book changes.
6. Timeline format: The curriculum and powerpoint information will be sent out the end of December with the Topic being “Animal Health Products”. Trainings will occur in February.
7. As a reminder: Youth ages 8-11 achieve certification only by going through an activity meeting and is an annual certification. Youth ages 12-14 can take an exam to pass or do the activity meeting. Youth ages 15-19 can take an exam or do an activity meeting in order to pass. Doing an activity meeting allows for one year certification, those that take exams can pass for additional years depending on their age when taking the exam.
8. Always look to the MAQA website for information updates.  http://www.uwex.edu/ces/animalscience/youthlivestock/quality.cfm

Materials

2008 MAQA Training Newsrelease (1 page, 28 KB)
2008 MAQA Training Flyer (2 pages, 55 KB)

Wisconsin Minimum Program Standards (1 page) (Updated 1/11/08)

WI Key Learning Objectives (4 pages, updated 1/11/08)

Youth PQA Plus Manual (122 pages, be patient)

2007-2008 MAQA Animal Health Products Teaching Materials (Need Extension Net ID and password, Ag teachers need to contact their extension county offices for the information)

Top